I'm in the same boat, kinda anyway. I want an 4a084 to build a little personal airboat around. As far as ratio goes, figure what max rpm the motor can be safely run at then figure how much hp your gonna have to play with. Call prop MFR's and discuss with them your project and determine what rpm the ...

I had a DD 350 on a Gilileo hull also back in the day. You need all the torque you can get in a DD configuration. I loved about my boat is the simplicity of it. It was just a motor sitting there with a prop bolted to the crank. Simple, easy to work on. Inexpensive to maintain. It was fun and would r...

Love this build. I can't wait to see video of your boat running. I enjoy seeing some variety out there. Just remember though, more torque, more prop, more thrust pushing on that crank. I hope it holds together under the enormous amount of pressure that it's about to be subjected to once you pitch it...

Like the guy above said. It's been done, rotax already has made or still makes engines to do what your trying to do. The only reason to want a rotax boat and NOT use a 583 or the like with a gearbox made for it would be because one could get the engine for cheap and had access to a machine shop to b...

Let's resurrect this old but good thread. My first airboat was a 12' apache with a pe90 that I got from my friend's dad when I was 14. He wanted like 1500 for the motor which I couldn't afford so I bought the hull, trailer and old brazed together rusted rigging. I wish I still had that hull right no...

When they make a mold for a fiberglass boat the designer can easily manipulate the shape of the bottom and chines. That's the main reason you hear a glass boat turns and handles better. Ive had a glass boat but my next one will be aluminum deckover if I had my wish. Up where you're at I'd put poly o...

https://youtu.be/3CpcButG0qU My 3rd airboat was a Gilileo with a DD 350. I had more fun on that boat than any other water toy I've ever had. Get you a stroker kit and build up a 383 and throw aluminum heads on it, get a used composite prop and you'll be set. It'll run dry way better after that. On ...

It's DD then it's more than likely high clearance on the mains. Especially that last one that takes all the gyroscopic forces. On my old DD 350 I used to have that was always the case. Decent pressure when engine cold then drops down to low to nothing after warmed up at idle, yep time for bearings.

Looks awesome. I've been looking at those motors as well for a mini I'm gonna build. There's a company that makes some nice looking psru for them. I can't remember the name but easy way to find them is on eBay. They are anodized blue.

=":)" I keep a lot of the stuff mentioned plus it's nice to keep a small tarp in the boat.. 10x10 folded and rolled takes up almost no space.. Well worth having in a storm! Have also heard tales of folks using the same tarp as an emergency glass hull "patch" to get the boat back to the ramp. :shock...

Yep, definitely get an adjustable composite prop. Run that 289 till it blows then throw a 351w on it, adjust the prop pitch and enjoy the bigger engine and increase in performance. Go with at least the 72" or you'll regret going shorter in the future when you have more motor. He'll I've even heard t...

I was testing and tuning my dad 350 boat in the yard one day years ago and forgot to bolt the air cleaner back down and the prop sacked it right off and bounced it around in the cage till I could shut it down. I was running a sensenich kevlar wrapped wood stick prop and it did minimal damage. I was ...

If you find someone willing to give you stick time I'd recommend driving around in the shallow water for a while learning how to turn and drive at slower speeds then work your way up in speed. Ask the driver to teach you about "torque roll". If you'll be driving in deepwater back home then "torque r...

I went from using block huggers and true dual 2.5" exhaust on my direct drive 350 to block huggers going to 2.25" x-pipe under the oil pan then out to 2.25" duals and picked up 200 more rpm on my last boat. I'm a firm believer in a good exhaust and scavenging. Here's a link to the original post of i...

I had a 12'6" Gilileo glass boat with a direct drive 350 and it ran dry OK. Came with a narrow 70x34 sensenich, had an air cleaner lid go through it, then bought a new 72x30 sensenich wide blade kevlar wrapped wood prop on it. Ran dry better with the wide blade, got way lower cruise rpms also, but m...

Airboating is awesome! I've had or done almost everything there is out there and I keep coming back to airboats. I sold my last boat almost a decade ago and I'm back, about to build a new one. Once this one's built, I'll never sell it, passing it on to my boys.

Thanks Rick. I'm gonna sell some of 4x4 stuff and get back into airboating. My airboats are the funnest "toys" I've ever owned.. I've got a "small" machine shop here at my house and all the requisite skills to construct something nice and dependable that I can pass on to my boys who are at that age ...

There is a guy named Robin Blakenship that makes props by the name RND props, that might be whom you are speaking about. He made a 42x18 prop for me a long time ago that did good on my mini. I don't have his number but you should be able to find it easily through a search. Edit: I looked up his numb...

He'll yeah! That was a good ol 4 wheeler. Not the strongest but it was reliable and rode good. I wish I still had that airboat I got from you. I miss that thing so bad. That airboat was the most fun I ever had with my clothes on!

Hey guys, it's been a long time since I sold my boat ( 10 years) , and I haven't been on much since then except for the occasional pop in to look around and see what's going on. A lot has changed in my life except for my love of airboats. I'm thinking seriously about building a new boat here soon an...